Richmond Kickers Feature
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. -- An instrumental figure with the Richmond Kickers since the club’s inception, Rob Ukrop’s name is synonymous with soccer in the community. The Kickers all-time leading scorer, he currently acts as the President of the Board of Directors and coaches the Kickers U-16 Girls Elite team.
With a professional career that spanned over a decade, Ukrop made 222 appearances and tallied 63 goals in a Kickers uniform. Drafted by the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer’s Inaugural Player Draft in 1996, he scored the first two goals in history of the franchise before returning to Richmond midseason. Posting a career high 17 goals and six assists in 1995 en route to USL and U.S. Open Cup Championships, the Richmond, Va. native claimed both League and U.S. Open Cup MVP honors that season.
A 1993 graduate of Davidson College, Ukrop is considered to be the greatest soccer player to wear a Wildcat uniform. Earning the Adi Dasler Award as the most outstanding college senior, he was runner-up for the Hermann Award in 1992. The two-time All-American holds Davidson career records for goals, assists and points.
Earning numerous accolades throughout his career, Ukrop is a member of the USL Hall of Fame, Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame and the Virginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame.
Committed to the youth in the community, Ukrop has made nearly 2,000 appearances over 15 years at school festivals, DARE graduations, SOL kickoffs, Cub Scout Banquets, church and youth group gatherings and numerous elementary and middle school graduations. He is active with Meals on Wheels, Richmond Police Athletic League, Communities in Schools-Richmond, Richmond’s Street Soccer team, and the Young Adults Alzheimer’s Association and is a featured speaker on goal setting and reminding young people of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
RichmondKickers.com: You have a lot of memories from your time with the Kickers. What would you describe as the most memorable moment in your career as a professional player?
Ukrop: Two memories standout in my mind: First, the 1995 season when we won both the USL League Title and the U.S. Open Cup. The camaraderie amongst the team combined with the energy and passion from the community created lasting memories. I believe it was the best "team" in Kickers’ history. And secondly, my last goal and assist as a professional against the Puerto Rico Islanders. We were down 1-0 at the time and Leigh came over to me with about a minute left in the game (there would be 5 minutes of stoppage time to be added) and said "go win the game.” I said "don’t worry, I always believe we are going to win." So my first touch, I serve a ball from the flank that Deli headed in to tie the game 1-1. Then late in stoppage, I got a ball about 30 yards from goal and no one pressured me so I hammered the ball on target, and sure enough, it nicked the bottom of the crossbar and went in for the game winner. It was an incredible scene as Leigh and the rest of the bench ran onto the field in celebration though there were still a few seconds to play.
RichmondKickers.com: What makes the Richmond Kickers so special for you compared to other soccer clubs?
Ukrop: We are a family. We have an exceptional operational and technical staffs that committed to serving our community. Our vision is to use the beautiful game of soccer to teach young people life skills that allow them to reach their dreams on and off the field. Shelley Sowers, our general manager, and Leigh Cowlishaw, our Director of Soccer, provide outstanding leadership and keep our focus on a quality experience for all of the Kickers’ families.
RichmondKickers.com: You have been with the Kickers since the birth of the organization. How does it feel to see the club going into its 20th season this year?
Ukrop: It is overwhelming. Soccer brings people together, and the Kickers have allowed me to build lasting friendships with people from all around the country. When we first began in 1993, Leigh Cowlishaw went from opponent to teammate very quickly, and it turned out to be a great friendship. Leigh has been the visionary behind our club’s evolution from a pro franchise into a full service soccer club that serves our community.
RichmondKickers.com: Where do you see the Richmond Kickers in 20 years?
Ukrop: In twenty years, I believe the Kickers will still be providing leadership for the nation on how to build the American soccer model, from the youth to the pros. I am confident we will continue to reach out to other youth sports clubs in our region helping to provide the best opportunities for our kids to grow on and off the field. I believe we will still be the model for player development in Central Virginia while bringing soccer families together to celebrate the beautiful game.
RichmondKickers.com: You are doing a lot of things for the community outside the club. Could you briefly describe some of these things?
Ukrop: Since I received tremendous support as a professional player from Richmond fans, I always want to make sure other kids have a similar opportunity to realize their dreams like I did. I have been fortunate to speak at many schools throughout the years, hoping to inspire kids to make good choices, live a healthy lifestyle, and work hard each day to make their dreams come true. I have also been blessed to be part of many youth soccer clinics for non-profit groups where my girls travel teams have been able to share some of their time and talent with others.
RichmondKickers.com: Your license plate says “Share Three T’s.” What are the “three T’s” and what do they stand for?
Ukrop: Time, Talent, and Treasure. My parents and grandparents always encouraged me to be a good steward of God’s gifts. At different points of my life, I have been able to share these T’s with others. I want to make sure my enthusiasm for helping others is contagious, and hopefully the license plate will inspire others to make a difference by sharing one of their T’s.